EXCLUSIVE: At last some good news for Newcastle as Taylor's injury is not as bad as first feared

Steven Taylor has given crisis club Newcastle a massive boost by sailing through a scan on his damaged ankle and setting his sights on their key relegation battle with Stoke.

Newcastle chiefs were bracing themselves for losing their England Under 21 defender for the rest of the season after fearing he had torn ligaments in last Saturday's 3-1 home defeat by Arsenal.

But he was given the all-clear late last night (Tuesday) after a scan showed he had suffered nothing worse than bruising.

Taylor, raised on Tyneside and fiercely committed to the Newcastle cause, was said to be 'hugely relieved' and anxious to return to an increasingly uphill struggle for Barclays Premier League survival at the earliest opportunity.

He still seems likely to miss Newcastle's next match with Chelsea, a week on Saturday, but now hopes to be fit for the relegation showdown with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium seven days later, where his battling qualities will be needed more than ever.

Poll

Who has been the star man for Newcastle this season?

Sebatien Bassong

Jonas Guiterrez

Nicky Butt

Obafemi Martins

Steven Taylor

Who has been the star man for Newcastle this season?

Sebatien Bassong84 votes

Jonas Guiterrez37 votes

Nicky Butt139 votes

Obafemi Martins129 votes

Steven Taylor349 votes

Now share your opinion

After being forced off against Arsenal, Taylor limped away from St James' Park on crutches, his bruised and swollen ankle in an air-cast.

'There were real worries about how long he would be out for,' said a Newcastle insider.

'People were talking about a month being the worst-case scenario, but if a tear had shown up on the scan, that would have been it for the season. Now he could be back in two weeks.'